Our Journey So Far

2015

Awareness Programs

Various awareness programs for villagers providing basic education on health and hygiene are organised frequently. The programs focus on knowledge sharing about prevention and control, risk factors associated with diseases and education for a healthy lifestyle and dietary habits. The programme aims at reducing target disease patterns in the area.

Sahayak - A Dialysis Support Initiative

This is a special support initiative for dialysis patients. Sahayak supports these patients and their families by looking into any health issues they may be facing and resolving their doubts and apprehensions. These voluntary support groups were formed by Fortis Hospital, Mohali and Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur. Through this programme quarterly meetings are organised, where senior doctors of the facility, interact informally with patients and members share their thoughts with each other. Often experts are invited to interact with patients and update them on the latest developments in the field of dialysis. These meetings also serve as a platform for the patients to share their lives with each other.

Last year over 350 people including a number of dialysis patients joined the support groups in Mohali and Jaipur.

2014

Health Awareness session at village Mauli Jagran, Mohali

A health and hygiene awareness camp was organized by Fortis Hospital Mohali at Garima centre, Mauli Jagran, a locality that was hit by a diarrhoea outbreak recently. The camp was held to educate residents on prevention and treatment of diarrhoea. The importance of following basic hygienic measures such as washing hands with soap before preparing food, before eating, before feeding a child and after defecation was stressed upon to reduce incidence of diarrhoea. The need for timely management of diarrhoea through oral rehydration therapy was also explained.
Over 80 people majority of them women and children attended the camp.

Global Dignity – India Program launched in Ludhiana

On 24th July 2014, Fortis Ludhiana launched the Global Dignity – India Program at the hospital. The session was attended by 75 Students and 8 Teachers from 8 different schools and was conducted by Dr. Samir Parikh, Director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences and his team. The session was very interactive and had enthusiastic participation from students and teachers, who would be organising several such sessions at their respective schools for benefit of their peers.

Through these sessions, our aim is to make the students, understand the importance of dignity in their lives and the lives of others, express what dignity means to them and know how their own dignity is equally dependent on the dignity of others.

About Global Dignity (India Program) - Last year, the Fortis Foundation and PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC (India) came together in FY13-14 to be the flag bearers of Global Dignity initiative in India. In August 2013, both organizations launched this nation-wide initiative to promote the message of DIGNITY amongst the younger generation. On 18th February 2014, World CSR Congress conferred Fortis with an award for this initiative under the category of “Innovations in Corporate Social Responsibility Practices”.

Global Dignity – India Program launched in Mumbai

Last year, the Fortis Foundation and PwC (India) came together in FY13-14 to be the flag bearers of Global Dignity initiative in India. In August 2013, both organizations launched this nation-wide initiative to promote the message of DIGNITY amongst the younger generation. On 18th February 2014, World CSR Congress conferred Fortis with an award for this initiative under the category of “Innovations in Corporate Social Responsibility Practices”.

On 25th June 2014 Fortis Mulund and S L Raheja jointly launched the Global Dignity – India Program at Mulund Hospital, Mumbai. Conducted by Dr. Samir Parikh, Director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences and his team, the session was attended by 107 students and 16 teachers from 15 schools from around the neighbourhood. Three people representing PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) from Mumbai also attended the session. The session was very interactive with enthusiastic participation from students and teachers, who would organise several sessions at their respective schools for benefit of their fellow students. With an aim to reach out to more school students in different part of our country, Global Dignity was also included as one of the initiatives under Community Connect. Fortis facilities in A, B and C category are expected to organise at least 2 sessions this year. Information on the same will be shared with all facilities by early next week.

2013

Fortis Foundation supported the awareness campaign of Cankids…Kidscan, - a pan India NGO and family support group, supporting children with cancer and their families. The Foundation was one of its awareness partners for the 12th INTERNATIONAL CHILDHOOD CANCER DAY (ICCD) held on 15th February, 2013. This was followed by a month long awareness drive across numerous hospitals in the country. Apart from providing services to children with cancer and their families, Cankids...Kidscan spreads awareness through different avenues of the central message that Childhood Cancer is curable. The theme this year is “Love Cures Cancer” and the focus for this year in consonance with the international bodies for Childhood Cancer SIOP –ICCCPO is “Early Detection Saves Lives”.This campaign was supported by many pediatric cancer units and also 26 Fortis Facilities in 10 states for over 30 days from Feb 15th to March 15th 2013 to help spread the message and create awareness that childhood cancer is curable when detected in time and treated properly.

“Children Against Tobacco” Campaign; Mumbai

Fortis Foundation once again reached out to the masses to advocate for change in behaviours from bad to good. In order to make adults more responsible and accountable towards their health and wellbeing, the Foundation launched the “Children Against Tobacco” campaign in January 2013. This was a conscious attempt by the Foundation, 4 Fortis Network Hospitals in Mumbai (Fortis Hiranandani, SL Raheja, Kalyan, Mulund Hospitals) and MET Young Explorer to create awareness on ill-effects of tobacco, thereby creating young foot soldiers who can propagate the message for a ‘Tobacco-Free Healthy Society’. This campaign created yet another Guinness World Record, wherein it collected over One Lakh personalized Greeting Cards with anti-Tobacco messages from students across Mumbai and the neighboring suburbs. The greeting cards with the messages were put up on a huge greeting card mosaic, which was set up for this campaign. Our purpose was to get the children sign on a greeting appealing to their parents/elders to quit smoking/tobacco. More than 100 schools across Mumbai region were involved in this initiative, with the Oncologists from Fortis hospitals and Principals from participating schools being our campaign ambassadors. This mosaic was displayed at the Grand Children’s Mela at Nirmal Lifestyle Mall, Mulund (W) on Sunday,3rd February, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., the eve of World Cancer Day.

2012

Fortis Hospital Kangra observes International Nurses Day

To commemorate International Nurses Day on May 12th Fortis Hospital Kangra organized health talks in 4 schools on May 10th. Children were taught about the importance of personal hygiene, hand hygiene, food hygiene, importance of balanced diet and healthy life style. Information about HIV-AIDS was also given to children from senior classes.

The sessions were very interactive and around 700 children benefitted from these awareness talks.

Fortis Foundation in association with Cankids…Kidscan, a non-profit organization and a family support group working for children suffering from cancer and their families, organised the 11th International Childhood Cancer Day, on 15th February, 2012. This Day is celebrated across the world with special events/outings for children with cancer and their families; its main aim is to spread the message that childhood cancer is curable when detected in time and treated properly. With this theme “LOVE CURES CANCER”, Cankids is celebrating ICCD 2012 in 30 pediatric cancer units in 11 different cities, 16 Fortis Facilities across 6 states for over 37 days from Feb 11th to March 18th 2012.

Awareness material is being displayed at hundreds of hospitals across different states in India including all Fortis Facilities in Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur and Mohali. This awareness campaign is not only restricted to hospitals but also spread in several schools in the metro cities of Delhi , Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Trivandrum, Movie Halls where Cankids are organizing movie outings for the children, across the country and select Railway Stations

Nanhi Chhaan

The forest cover in the country has dwindled to 26% and there is an increasing imbalance in the sex ratio. If unchecked, this will soon go down to 100:85 by 2020. Already, it is estimated that 1 in every 25 female foetuses is aborted.

Nanhi Chhaan Foundation launched an initiative in 2008, aimed at saving the girl child and the environment. The initiative was rolled off in Punjab and subsequently spread to several locations in northern India. The programme aims at raising awareness towards protecting the two vital ‘Life Givers’ - our environment and the girl child. Fortis Foundation partnered with Nanhi Chhaan Foundation through the Centre for Community Initiative (CCI) in July 2009, to create more visibility for this initiative and the issues it addresses.

Whenever a lady gives birth to a girl child in any of the Fortis Network Hospitals or a female patient leaves the hospital after treatment, the occasion is commemorated and honoured by planting a sapling. We firmly believe increased participation and growing awareness in the society can and will help create the necessary changes in our approach towards girls and environment. 24,181 saplings were distributed by Fortis network hospitals till the end of March 2012.

On December 24, 2010 Mohan Lal Memorial College in Amritsar approached the Fortis Escorts Hospital in Amritsar to formally adopt the Nanhi Chhaan initiative and promote the cause in village "Muddal" which is situated at 15 kms from the facility. The college arranged awareness sessions in the Gurdwara of the village, where 56 local ladies were apprised on the concept of Nanhi Chhaan and the need to change the attitude towards the two major problems – female infanticide and depletion of the environment.

A health check camp was also organised by FEHA, where local women and children were examined and made aware about health concerns of mothers and children.

Later, the principal of MLM College and FEHA doctors distributed saplings to 52 females including children and adults from the village and a plantation drive was carried out in the whole village.

Saplings were presented to Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Hon''ble Chief Minister of Delhi and Shri. Kapil Sibal, Hon''ble Union Minister of Education and Telecom, who planted them in the hospital premises.

To showcase solidarity for this noble cause several Board Members of Fortis Healthcare Limited also planted saplings during the occasion.

Through Nanhi Chhaan programme, Fortis Foundation aims at:

Discouraging the heinous act of female infanticide (as estimated, 1 in every 25 female foetuses is aborted in India).

Help saving life giving trees

Creating a green and healthy environment

Sharing knowledge to change the attitude of people towards these two major problems facing our country

Fortis Foundation creates World Record for achieving the largest number of Cervical Cancer Screenings in Mumbai

Fortis Foundation through Fortis Hospital, Vashi set another Guinness World Record on 23rd December 2012, for the highest number of cervical cancer screenings on a single day. Fortis Hospital at Vashi screened over751 women in an 8 hour marathon screening, as part of its 'Teal To Heal Together' campaign beating the earlier record of 350 participants held by Kaiser Permanente, San Diego (USA) achieved on the 29th January 2011. The hospital left no stone unturned with more than 50 gynaecologists and oncologists working seamlessly and screening participants in more than 20 OPD rooms. Thanks to the exceptional efforts of the dedicated team of Dr.Ratnadeep Chaskar, Dr. Vandana Gawdi, Dr. Shishir Shetty and their teams.

On a yearly basis over 1,30,000 new cases are detected and it is estimated the number of new cervical cancer cases in India will increase to nearly 2,26,000 by 2025. Due to the lack of awareness and social stigma, the mortality rate among patients suffering from cervical cancer has risen from 74,118 reported deaths in 2002 to 2,70,000 reported deaths at present. Over 10% of all cancer deaths annually are accounted to cervical cancer.

The awareness campaign titled 'Teal To Heal Together' was organized to educate women on the importance of pap smear screenings and vaccination for the prevention and cure of cervical cancer. The campaign included public lectures and a registration drive that reached out to over 20 lac women across Mumbai making them aware of issues related to the prevention and management of cervical cancer. Over 10,000 women took a pledge to undergo cervical cancer screening. Mr. Nikhil Shukla, representative - Guinness World Records witnessed the entire event and later announced the entry of Fortis Hospital, Vashi into the Guinness World Record and presented a certificate to Fortis Foundation.

Understanding Adolescence

6th & 7th standard students of Vivek School, Mohali participated in an interactive session to understand the issues and health concerns during adolescence. Separate sessions were arranged for boys and girls on request so that, they could freely discuss the concerns and queries with specialists. The doctors explained the process of adolescence, the physiological, physical and emotional changes that occur during this period and how to deal with them.

Saplings planted by pre-school kids to celebrate the birth of girl child and contribute to saving the environment, Mohali

ur Nanhi Chhaan programme is not only restricted to creating awareness amongst the adults but it also tries to raise awareness amongst young kids, so that they grow up as a responsible citizen of our country and help save the girl child and our environment. In July, 38 young students of class II from Ryan School in Mohali planted saplings along with doctors and nurses in the compound of Fortis Hospital Mohali. The students understood the importance of this initiative and pledged to plant more trees in and around their school and home. To mark the occasion they sang a beautiful song on the importance of saving the environment. Later these children were also taken for a round of the hospital.

Health Awareness session at village Mauli Jagran, Mohali

A health and hygiene awareness camp was organized by Fortis Hospital Mohali at Garima centre, Mauli Jagran, a locality that was hit by a diarrhoea outbreak recently. The camp was held to educate residents on prevention and treatment of diarrhoea. The importance of following basic hygienic measures such as washing hands with soap before preparing food, before eating, before feeding a child and after defecation was stressed upon to reduce incidence of diarrhoea. The need for timely management of diarrhoea through oral rehydration therapy was also explained.

Over 80 people majority of them women and children attended the camp.

Over 100 underprivileged children attend special session on Child Sexual Abuse held by Fortis Hospital Mohali at Ashiana Children’s Home, Panchkula

Over 100 underprivileged children from Indira Colony, Rajiv Colony, Mauli Jagran and orphans residing at Ashiana Children’s Home attended a special session on ‘Protecting a child from child abuse – things you should remember’ organized by Fortis Mohali. A prominent doctor sensitized the children on this aspect sharing its high prevalence in society and the fact that children on the street, at work and in institutional care reported the highest incidence of sexual assault. Most of the abuse takes place by people known to the child and most children do not report the matter to anyone because of the shame and guilt associated with it. Some of the tips given to the children were to go with a friend in order to be safer, it is your body and you have the right to say NO to anyone who tries to touch you and to talk about it - children often keep abuse a secret, but barriers can be broken down by talking openly about it.

A free health check-up camp was also conducted by a team of Fortis doctors and nurses after the session

Fortis Foundation in association with Fortis Hospital Vashi launched the “Clean Hands to Save Life” campaign in 24 schools across Mumbai, their aim was to reach out to the masses and create awareness about importance of hand sanitization, reinforcing Fortis’s commitment to a safe and healthy India. The 6 basic steps for handwashing was taught first to the teachers of the schools and then the students from standard 2nd to 8th. The phase 2 of the campaign involved a special gathering of people, which created a Guinness World Record of “maximum number of people sanitizing their hands at a single venue” with participation from 3039 people.

2011

Fortis Nanhi Chhaan Day

On January 6, 2011, Fortis Nanhi Chhaan Day was celebrated across the Fortis Network (including 15 facilities, Community Hospital, Amethi and Fortis Corporate Office) by inaugurating sapling nurseries, planting trees in hospital compounds and gifting saplings to patients. This day was observed with great fervour with an enthusiastic involvement from the hospital employees. This celebration marked a pan India commemoration of this important movement of nurturing the girl child, promoting women''s empowerment and creating awareness on environment protection.

As part of its efforts to reach out to underprivileged people, Fortis Ft. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital, Vasant Kunj conducted an awareness camp on personal and environmental hygiene for residents of Rangpuri Pahari slum in August. The camp emphasised the need to inculcate good habits of cleanliness to help reduce chances of infection and disease. A team from the nursing department started by organizing a small skit on the subject, which dramatized the damaging consequences of living with unclean habits. Important practices of hygiene were explained – how water should be filtered/boiled for preventing water-borne diseases, like jaundice and typhoid; washing of hands with soap before meals and after going to the toilet; cleaning of vegetables and utensils and maintaining cleanliness in clothing. The session ended with a question and answer round.

A total of 70 persons, including children and old people benefited from this camp.

Fortis Hospital Mohali organised a special session on hand hygiene for kids of Ashiana orphanage and children from surrounding slums of Panchkula. A staff dressed as Santa demonstrated 7 vital steps of hand washing and maintaining personal hygiene. Over 200 children attended this programme. The talk concluded with the distribution of goodies to the children from Santa Claus. The session was followed by screening of the popular animated movie ‘Mowgli’.

Fortis Nanhi Chhaan Day

On January 6, 2011, Fortis Nanhi Chhaan Day was celebrated across the Fortis Network (including 15 facilities, Community Hospital, Amethi and Fortis Corporate Office) by inaugurating sapling nurseries, planting trees in hospital compounds and gifting saplings to patients. This day was observed with great fervour with an enthusiastic involvement from the hospital employees. This celebration marked a pan India commemoration of this important movement of nurturing the girl child, promoting women''s empowerment and creating awareness on environment protection.

Nanhi Chhaan was launched on 12th May 2011 (International Nurse’s Day) at Fortis O.P. Jindal Hospital and Research Centre. Top executives of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd and their spouses led by Dr. Zeenat Ansari planted saplings in hospital premises to mark the launch of Nanhi Chhaan. Mr.Naushad Akhtar Ansari, Executive Director, JSPL distributed saplings to all the nurses in the facility. He appreciated the efforts of Fortis Foundation in spreading the message of protecting girl child and our environment to the masses.

Training on Basic Life Support Systems

This training namely the Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) session is designed for general public, public safety personnel, auto drivers and lifeguards. The course equips trainees to administer emergency help to a victim in case of a cardiac arrest. The entire session involves a multi-media demonstration using computerised mannequins and hands-on training. The programme further has a module on advanced life support systems for general practitioners and allied health care professionals. Participants are trained to recognise and deal with emergency situations.

In 2010-11 about 3200 people were given training on basic life support.

2005-2010

Brain Tumour Awareness March

Fortis Foundation organized a Brain Tumour Awareness March in association with Delhi Neurological Association on 31st October 2010 in New Delhi which coincided with the start of the International Brain Tumour Awareness Week. This walk was flagged off by Smt. Kiran Walia, Hon''ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Delhi Government. The march started at Maulana Azad Medical College and culminated at the Gandhi Samadhi in Rajghat. About 400 people from different walks of life – doctors & nurses from hospitals across Delhi/NCR including all the Fortis Healthcare facilities, patients & their families, non-profit organizations, individuals, etc. participated in this awareness creating initiative. More than 100 Fortisians gathered for the march to support the cause and showcase their solidarity & commitment towards creating awareness on health issues. The march culminated with a poster competition on Brain Tumour by young children from different schools in Delhi followed by a public lecture in the auditorium of G. B. Pant Hospital.

Health Talks and Lectures

Lectures, educational programs and trainings are organised for internal and external stakeholders by eminent medical educators in association with Fortis Healthcare on different subjects at different locations. These lectures are organised in schools, colleges or public places, independently or through organisations such as the Rotary Club. Corporate lectures are also organised for Government Employees, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and Private Sector Companies about possible occupational hazards and awareness generation on health related issues.

Topics for these lectures are diverse.

Fortis hospital Faridabad held awareness talks for adolescents in various schools on anger management, puberty related issues and sexual and reproductive health.

Fortis hospital Noida held HIV/ AIDS awareness talks with truck drivers and taxi driver unions. Regular talks were also held with senior students in various schools on their request and with staff members. Talks on drug abuse were also given to adolescents as this is a period when they might be exposed to drugs and there is a danger of addictions developing.

Fortis Jaipur held a free screening and consultation camp on Hepatitis at the hospital on occasion of World Hepatitis Day.

Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, organised a talk on Hand Hygiene for the MCD sanitation workers. The talk aimed at sensitising over 5000 workers towards the importance of hand hygiene in their field of work.

HIV / AIDS is a growing pandemic in most of the developing countries, and now rising alarmingly in India. The lack of awareness and understanding of the disease results in fear and a negative attitude towards it amongst people, causing stigmatisation, discrimination and mistreatment of HIV positive people and people living with AIDS. Every action towards AIDS awareness is critical and Fortis Foundation has been working towards putting together an effective and sustainable programme through several of the Fortis Network Hospitals.

Since the past few years, the Foundation has been running awareness generation Programs on HIV/AIDS aimed at sensitising the general populace regarding ‘safe’ behaviour. We have been continuously designing awareness, care and support Programs for the larger community. Outreach Programs have been conducted for diverse target groups like adolescents, college students, teachers, unorganised groups such as scooter mechanics, taxi drivers and corporate employees. These Programs are conducted by trained ‘peer’ educators so that they have a deeper impact upon the audience.

In 2008, a corporate awareness programme was conducted for employees of Fortis Healthcare Limited. in partnership with Modicare Foundation, which is a non-profit organization working for awareness of HIV/AIDS in Delhi. The objective of this project was to create a resource pool within Fortis Healthcare in the form of Peer Educators (PE) who can work towards increasing awareness about HIV/AIDS amongst their colleagues and people they come and contact with their day-to-day work. The project was aimed at creating a workforce that is empowered, sensitised and aware of HIV/AIDS in every respect so that they become key contributors towards spreading awareness about this dreaded pandemic within the larger community.

In 2010 – 11 about 15750 people were made aware of HIV and AIDS.

Started on December 1, 1988, World AIDS Day is celebrated to increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education around HIV/AIDS. HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world with India having an estimated 23.9 lakh people infected with HIV in 2009 at an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 0.31%. Adult HIV prevalence among men is 0.36%, while among women, it is 0.25%.

Spreading awareness is one of the best ways to fight this disease and Fortis Foundation in association with Fortis Mohali, Amritsar, Jaipur, Noida and Vasant Kunj, organised several awareness initiatives to spread the message about HIV/AIDS across different states to combat the discrimination and myths associated with this disease.

Saarthak - A Cancer Support Initiative

Saarthak was launched in May 2005 to extend support to cancer patients. Similarly like Saahayak, these voluntary support groups were formed by Fortis Hospital, Mohali and later by Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur. Members share their thoughts with each other and often yoga and ''Art of Living'' instructors are called to help patients relax and de-stress.

Last year over 300 people including a number of cancer patients joined the support groups.